Skip to main content
  • Accessibility
  • Headlines
  • Coronavirus-News
  • Get-Hooked
  • Technology
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Parasports
  • Ask Bhavna
  • NHBrandView
  • Independent Living
  • Lifestyle
  • NH Videos
×
Newz Hook – Changing Attitudes towards Disability Logo
  • Stories
  • Videos
  • Inclusive
  • NH Voice
  • Login
COVID-19 Notification by Government in Accessible Format

Accessibility Tools

Text Size:

Contrast Scheme:

  • C
  • C

Reset

  • Home
  • Get-hooked
  • “Break stereotypes, love yourself & follow your dreams”- My Take by Anmol Rodriguez

“Break stereotypes, love yourself & follow your dreams”- My Take by Anmol Rodriguez

Get-hooked March 5, 2019
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
0

In My Take this week, Anmol Rodriguez, an acid attack survivor from Mumbai, shares her incredible journey from an orphanage to becoming an actor and a model.

I was hardly two months old when I was the target of an acid attack. The attacker was my own father. He threw acid on my mother while I was on her lap and some of it fell on me as well. She succumbed to her injuries.

This is how my life began. Some kind souls admitted me to a hospital where I was treated for my burns. No one came forward to look after me so nurses and doctors at the hospital took care of me until I was five years old. At that point, they sent me to an orphanage in Mumbai called Shree Manav Seva Sangh and this is where I spent the rest of my life.

I have no family and I don’t know where my father is or if he is dead or alive. I heard that he was jailed after he attacked me and my mother.

Journey toward independence

From a young age, I was determined to earn and stand on my own feet. I did a graduation in computer applications and joined a multi-national company in Mumbai. I was very happy and excited and worked there for almost two months. One day, they just fired me. WhenI asked them why, I was told it was because my colleagues were uncomfortable seeing my face every day. After that, I struggled for over a year to get a job and that was a hard time.

Social media has always attracted me and I regularly put up my photos and posts. One day a photographer spotted my profile and asked me if I was willing to do a photo shoot. That opened many doors of opportunities for me.

Soon, I was spotted by a film director who cast me in a film called Auntyji. I had the opportunity to act with Shabana Azmi. After that, I did a few advertisements, including one for Kotak Mahindra along with the actor Ranveer Singh.. I am glad to say that I am following my dreams and chasing my passion. The struggle was hard. But now, I am totally loving where I stand.

Strength & determination

Being an acid attack survivor in India is very hard. I feel that people’s attitude towards acid attack survivors must change. They show a lot of sympathy to you. But the same people deny you opportunities too. I wanted to work, earn and live my life but was denied the opportunity because of my face. This is something that never was and never will be under my control. At the end of the day, every human being wants to survive and eat some food. I had to struggle a lot to do that. Now, I am 23 years old and have already learned a lot of about life.

It is high time that people starts appreciating others for their ability, talents and skills. Just because my face does not suit you, why are you denying me of opportunities? Everyone wants to be loved, supported and respected.

Sometime back, I co-founded an NGO named Acid Survivors Saahas Foundation to empower and reach out to acid attack survivors. But I dropped the project because I realised that people had money motives instead of supporting victims. But I work with other NGOs that support acid attack survivors.

I have a few plans lined up for my future. I want to concentrate and be successful in what I do. I want people to promote their brands using my name. Like imagine that feeling where people would tell that they want Anmol to promote our brand! I also want to do more films and good roles as an actor. I believe I had good acting skills and hence I want to experiment with it. Basically, I want to be a jack of all trades and try my luck with everything that interests me.

I am happy that I had to undergo many struggles because that has made me a stronger and tougher person. I believe that everyone should help others because we all live together in this world. Instead of trying to put down people, it is important to lift them up.

Break stereotypes, love yourself and follow your dreams. Especially to acid attack survivors, never think that you are not beautiful. You must come forward and interact with the society as much as you can. There will be thousands of people to de-motivate you. But don’t bother. Stay happy and keep working towards your goals.

ALSO READ: “Make an effort to begin, rest everything falls in place”- My Take by Piyush Sharma

Watch in Sign Language

0

Support us to make NewzHook Sustainable – Make a Contribution Today

We need your continued support to enable us work towards Changing Attitudes towards Disability. Help us in our attempt to share the voices of people with disabilities that enable them to participate in the society on an equal footing!

Contribute to Newz Hook

NH Videos

Healing pain through art - Dr. Anubha Mahajan, Founder Chronic Pain India

Read more on Newz Hook

  • Get-hooked,Headlines
    Celebrate Achievers with Disabilities with us today
  • Accessibility,Independent Living
    Affordable and Independent Mobility for Persons with Disabilities in India – Challenges & Way Forward (series 1 of 3)
  • Accessibility,Independent Living
    Affordable and Independent Mobility for Persons with Disabilities in India – Challenges & Way Forward (series 2 of 3)
  • Technology
    Automotive accessibility product Caruna helps people with disabilities move in & out of cars easily
  • Education,Employment
    A STEPPING STONE TO COVETED CAREERS

Contribue to Newz Hook. Support us to make NewzHook Sustainable – Make a Contribution Today.

Newsletter

 Subscribe to our Newsletter

Want to feature your inspiring story or share an event with the disabled community? Write to:

editor@newzhook.com

Related News

Kush Kanodia carrying the torch at the 2020 London Paralympics

Get-hooked

“UK needs a National Disability Strategy, co-produced with disabled people” – Disability rights champion Kush Kanodia

Accessibility

Affordable and Independent Mobility for Persons with Disabilities in India – Challenges & Way Forward (series 1 of 3)

A LinkABILITY session in progress

Education

A STEPPING STONE TO COVETED CAREERS

Invite to the telecast & webstreaming of the 2021 CavinKare Ability Awards at 7pm today.

Get-hooked

Celebrate Achievers with Disabilities with us today

Newz Hook - Accessible News

Download App Now!

Videos

View More

Get-hooked

Understanding weighted blankets

Parasports

Ex Indian Armed Forces soldiers on a mission to enable disabled people to conquer land, sea & water

Get-hooked

Empowering parents & changing public attitudes – Meet the team behind SOCH-Autism Society of Punjab

Get-hooked

Disability can't stop me, says Indian origin cook Shalini Devi Ganesan with a dedicated YouTube channel

Newz Hook Logo

About Newz Hook

Newz Hook is a media site focusing on Changing Attitudes towards Disability globally. We highlight stories that share insights into the lives of people with disabilities, offer solutions and create collaborations. Our focus is to have Inclusion Champions from across the globe who share knowledge about disability, inclusion & accessibility.

Lets come together to change attitudes towards disability!

Newz Hook is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Follow us on:

Related Links

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Partner with Newz Hook
  • Embed Newz Hook Timeline
  • Affiliate disclosure
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Contribute to Newz Hook

Our Awards

Zero Project Award Winner 2018
Back To Top
© 2019 All Right Reserved. Inclusive News India Private Limited.

Ask Bhavna

All fields are mandatory unless specified as optional.